Lucile Knowlden Dixon


Wife of Henry Aldous Dixon, President of Utah State Agricultural College, Aug. 1953 - Dec. 1954

Lucile Knowlden was born in Provo on Dec. 9, 1891. Her father was Robert Edwin Knowlden; her mother, Mable Twelves. Lucile grew up in Provo, attended the Maeser School, BYU High School, and received her normal degree from Brigham Young University. Lucille married Henry Aldous Dixon on June 2, 1915 in Salt Lake City. She taught for two years at the Timpanogos School before her marriage. The Dixons had four daughters and two sons.

Before becoming president of USU, Henry had been superintendent of schools in Provo and President of Weber Junior College from 1920-1924 and 1932 to 1937, then president of Weber State College from 1937 until 1953. He left the presidency of USU after being elected to the U. S. House of Representatives to the Eighty-fourth, Eighty-fifth, and Eighty-sixth Congresses (Jan. 3, 1955 - Jan 3, 1961). The Dixons lived in Washington, D.C. for six years before returning to Ogden.

Lucile was active in the LDS Church. She was president and a member of the board of directors for the Children's Aid Society, a member of the Acacia Club, and Children's Hour Club. She served as president of Weber College Faculty Women and was a charter member of the Nelke Reading Club of Provo. Lucile loved gardening, growing plants indoors and out. She especially enjoyed African violets and while she lived on campus the university horticulture group regularly brought her fresh flowers.

In gathering information for her book on the president's house, Alice Chase learned from Mrs. Dixon that her "heart sank at the prospect of moving into" the president's home. The Dixon's had at that time a new house in Ogden. The president's house had purportedly been neglected and the trustees decided to "recondition" the house rather than build a new house. Despite her initial impressions, Lucile told Alice that "living there proved to be a delightful experience."

Lucile died on Dec. 13, 1986 in Ogden. She was 95 years old.